Guy-line tightener



Dec. 24, 1929. s. w. HlLLlER 1,740,982

GUY LINE TIGHTENER Filed Sept. 1'7. 1928 INVENFZR JIM/Alder BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEYMOUR W HILLIER, OF SULTAN, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES HEADRICK, F SUL'I'AN, WASHINGTON GUY-LINE TIGHIENER Application filed September This invention relates to tighteners for guy lines, its object being the improvement in de vices of this character to render the same more effective, reliable and convenient to regulate.

Another object is to provide a guy-line tightener which is capable of being quickly released without danger to the operator.

With the above and other objects in View,

. my improvements consist in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a guy-line tightener embodying my invention shown applied; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the tightener with a portion of a guy-line in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2, the guy-line being omitted; Fig. i is a transverse sectional view on lines 4.-4 of Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the removable gripping block; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the block-setting wedge; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an end of the tightener frame to illustrate the operation of the shackle releasing device.

In said drawing, the reference numeral 10 represents a cable constituting a guy-line for a post (not shown) and to which line the tightener is applied to couple it to a sling 11 whereby the guy-line is secured to an anchor, shown as a tree stump 12 in Fig. 1.

More specifically, the tightener comprises a frame consisting of two side plates 18 which, atone end of the frame, are connected by a saddle piece 14 whence the side plates extend upwardly and terminate in inwardly directed flanges 15 with a slot 16 therebetween as best shown in Fig. 4. v

The slot 16 is of a width to permit the guyline 10 being lowered through the slot into a channel 17 provided in the top of said saddle piece. I

Positioned between the side plates 13 and below the flanges 15 of the frame is a removable block 18 and a wed e 19, one above the other: In the under sur ace of the block 18 at its midwidth is a groove 20 extending the entire length of the block, said groove being formed to provide a seriesofrecesses 21 adapted to interfit with the strands of the guy-line.

17, 1928. Serial No. 306,454.

The said block is provided with a plane upper surface upon which is seated the above mentioned wedge 19 which is adapted to operate between the frame flanges 15 and the block 18 to force the latter downwardly into engaged relation with the guy-line -whereupon the block and saddle piece 14 coact to clamp the guy-line to the frame. The wedge is arranged to be actuated when drivenin the direction of the cable pull as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. To prevent the wedge being accidentally dislodged, with the block 18, by the guy-line pull from the frame, the wedge is provided with means, such as horns 22, engageable with stop shoulders 23 of the frame to limit the outward movement of the wedge.

As shown, said wedge is provided with a lug 24 to extend through the slot 16, the portion of the lug protruding above the frame being intended to be struck at either end by a hammer as may be requisite for driving the wedge into orfrom its block setting relation. 25 represents reinforcing ribs to strengthen the end of the frame referred to against lateral distortion of breakage. At the other end of the frame from said saddle piece, the said plates are notched, as at 26, from below to receive the pin 27 of a clevis 28 whereby the tightener frame is connected to the looped extremities 11 of the anchor sling 11.

For releasably securing the clevis pin 27 within said notches of the frame I provide between the plates 18 a latch member 29 which is adapted to extend below said clevis pin and is connected to the frame plates 13 at diametrically opposite sides of said notches by a pivot bolt 30 and a detachable locking pin 31, respectively. Said latch member is further characterized by the provision of a finger extremity 32 which is adapted to serve as a lever arm against the clevis pin 27, as indicated in Fig. 7, to expel the clevis pin from the tightener frame by means of a hammer blow imparted against the other arm of the latch 29, as indicated by arrow in Fig. 7.

34 represents a pin engaged in both of the frames side. plates 13 and serves as the axle for a peripherally grooved wheel 35 which is disposed to have a projection of the channel 20 tangential, or nearly so, with respect to the wheel groove.

The sole purpose of the wheel 85 is that of a pulley sheave to lead the free end 10 of the guy line 10 to the winding drum (not shown) ofa donkey engine-either directly or through'themedium of a'ropeattached to the guy=linewhereby the slack is taken from the guy-line and then rendered-taut to be ubs qu ntly c amped t thetightenerby means of the block 18 whenactuated by the Wedge 19.

For use, the end 10 of the guy-line 10 is threaded through the gullet 36 (Figs. 2 and 3) of the frame, and the main'portion of the guy-line dropped, so to speak, through the frame.slot.16 into the channel'20 which, being smooththat is, not provided with corrugations permits "the guy-line being readily drawn'by the above mentioned winding; drum.

'10 apply the tightener, it isfirst connected,

by me'a-ns of'the clev is28 and sling 11, to the stump 12, .or other suitableanchor; then the guy line'is inserted, as above explainedvin the tightener frame; then,a fter passingthe guy- 7 line aboutthe sheave as indicated'by dotted line in F ig. 2, the guy-line is stretched.

Theguy-line being thus stretched or drawn taut is coupledto thetightener frame by successivelyinsertingthe block 18 anddriving the iwedge'into' its'place to cause the block to engage the guy-line.- The guyline being thus secured'may now be liberated from the stretching or tensioning drum, its free ent 10 fallingupon the ground as represented in Fig. 1.

The guy-line may be released in two ways, namely: by disengaging the clevis pin 28 from the frame by means of the latch member 29 employed as alever, as hereinbefore explained; or by retracting the wedge 19by means of hammer blows imparted against the wedge projection 28-to free the block and permit its being drawn by means .of the guy-line from the frame.

A quick release of the guy-line is attainable with either of the above, described methods' whenthe stress on the guy-line is moderate; but, when it is subjected to an excessive stress, the clevis ejecting way isipreferable and more certain. Y

The invention is peculiarly useful in log ging camps because of its safety, efii'c-ieney,

and 'handiness.

from the sides thereef Fte mi-inating in fla s ir tedn d y t the-fr me e blee 'dapte te be ins rt d n' he fr me between its-side plates .andihaving agroove ermedtoz-p ev d a ser es e z eeeseee te nterer eiting he l ere item e 1 fit with the strands of the guy-line, and a wedge arranged to he used in the frame between said flanges and the block for forcing the latter into guy-line clamping relation with respect to the frame.

2. In a guy-line tightener, a rigid frame having a saddle (element and twejplate elements extending upwardly from the opposite sides respectively of said saddle element and provided with'fiange elementsvdisposed. at the inner-fsidesnfitheplates with respect to the frame, a removable block provided in the frameabove the saddle element, said saddle element and the bloclrbeing provided with opposing grooves to receive the guy-line, and

edgeedap dt be used in he frame b en a d ifieng e andtheble k for e n the frame and block ingripping relation with the guy-line. V

8.'In a guy-line tightenena-rigid frame having a saddle element and'twoplateelementsj extendingupwardly from the opposite sides respectively of, said I saddle element-and provided with flange elementsdisposed at the inner sides of the pilates Withl'fifiPGCiLtO the frame, a removable block provided in the frame above the saddleelement, and a wedge adaptedto be used'in the. frame. between said flange -a d the-Meek fe ee uring t rame 31 51 5 9 1 l gr pping r la i n Withthe. guyline. i

it. In aguy-line tightener, a rigid frame ns' t ene e e e t on o a substan ia ly U-shape, the side. members thereofhaving inwardly directedfiange elements, said flanges being spaced for; the insertion .therehetwe'en of the gi y liiie into the frame, albleckremovably positioned with-inthe .frame, and a wedge adapted tob inserted endwise into the frame below. said flanges .for forcing the block into engagedrelation with guy-line'to e'fl'ectthe clamping of the latter to the frame.

5. In a guysline :tightener as defined in claim a, whereinmeansare provided at one end of the wedge to engage the frame for limiting the movement of the wedge in one direction with respect to the "frame,

6. In a guy-line tightener as defined in claim 4 wherein the wedge is'provided with a lug element arranged to extend upwardlythrough the space between the frame flanges for the purpose ofregnlating theposition of the wedge in either direction long-i-tudina l ly of the frame.

7. A guy-linetightener comprising, in combination, ,a rigid frame provided at. one end with means for clamping the guy-line-to he er e he endee rl frame l e n p ev ded w h enet e ele ehevinsthesis lement reef e sesea e n-ee l" et-e nd l e el v e -e eiit dt for e ns he'elevi eeeesed Withi eei l ne-tel I A sllfy -l ne esh eeer :eempneie easman. ea ieii frame-Pram a e.

end With a Wedge actuated means for clamping the guy-line to the frame, the other end of said frame being provided With a notch,

a clevis having the pin element thereof engageable in said notch, and a latch device adapted to be used for retaining the clevis engaged Within said notch and for ejecting the clevis therefrom selectively.

9. a guy-line tightener as defined in claim 7, wherein said latch is pivotally connected intermediate its length to the frame so as to afford two arms, one of the arms serving to secure the clevis to the frame and the other arm being adapted for use in displacing the clevis from the frame.

10. In a guy-line tightener, in combination,

a frame provided in one end thereof with a Wedge-controlled block to clamp the guy-line to the frame between the frame and the block, latch means provided at the other end of the frame for detachably connecting the frame securing devices thereto, and a sheave mounted in the frame for leading the free end of the guy-line.

Signed at Sultan, Washington, this 31st day of August, 1928.

SEYMOUR V. HILLIER. 

